Council of Delegates 1997: Resolution 7

27-11-1997 Resolution

Functional Cooperation

Council of Delegates of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Seville, Spain, 25 - 27 November 1997

The Council of Delegates,

recognizing the importance of the relationship that has been built up between the senior managements of the International Federation Secretariat and the ICRC to ensure the effectiveness of the operations of the Movement’s components,

recognizing also the importance of the establishment of the “Yverdon” meetings, the Study Group on the Future of the Movement, the Policy and Planning Advisory Commission and the Advisory Commission in order to enable the Movement to find a way to strengthen cohesion and cooperation within the Movement,

recalling the importance for the Movement not only to be united, coherent and cost-effective, but also to present such an image of itself as to be able to work in the interest of the victims and the most vulnerable,

taking note of the joint report on functional cooperation submitted by the ICRC and the International Federation,

having endorsed the Agreement on the organization of the international activities of the components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement,

urging all components of the Movement to make the effective implementation of the Agreement a high priority,

1. recommends that

(a) the managements of the ICRC and the Federation together establish a task force in order to actively develop new initiatives to promote functional cooperation based on the guiding and management principles set out in the new Agreement, and further elaborated in terms of reference to be agreed,

(b) the ICRC and the Federation, in countries where both are already operating, explore and advance, in cooperation with the operating National Societies and involved participating National Societies, new systems for implementing effective functional cooperation;

2. requests that the ICRC/Federation task force involve concerned National Societies at least twice a year to establish plans, monitor implementation of the project and evaluate functional cooperation against agreed performance indicators, in order to:

(a) report back regularly to their respective governing bodies,

(b) report to the Council of Delegates in 1999 and the Standing Commission as part of the reporting arrangements outlined in the new Agreement.